Donnelly needs unanimous, Ko or Tko win to keep Rio dream alive

Muhammed Rabii (Morocco Lions) went joint top of the WSB 69kg Individual rankings table with Russia’s Razhab Butaev after beating Wei Liu of the China Dragons on a unanimous decision in Casablanca tonight.

The result means that Rabii and Butaev, who are both on 29 points and who will probably meet in their last WSB match of the season in North Africa on April 24, will both qualify for the Rio Olympics in 2016 if Ireland’s Steven Donnelly, who is in third position on 19 points, doesn’t not win on a unanimous decision, KO or TKO in Italy tomorrow night.

Donnelly is slated to line out for the Hussars of Poland versus Dario Morello of Italia Thunder on Saturday.

The top two WSB ranked welterweights qualify for Rio 2016. A maximum of five points are awarded for unanimous decisions or stoppages. Four points are awarded for split decisions.

Likewise, if Donnelly does not earn five points in Italy he will not be able to match Rabii’s or Butaev’s 29 points from his final match against Venezuela in Poland on April 24.

Irish coach Eddie Bolger will be working Donnelly’s corner in Italy tomorrow night.